French Torture Charge Against Belarus Minister

Agroup of alleged victims of the Belarus regime have filed a case in a Paris court against visiting Belarusian Interior Minister Anatoly Kuleshov.

Victims’ lawyer William Bourdon said that the victims had filed a complaint alleging "torture and cruel and degrading treatment" after Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's disputed reelection in 2010.

Kuleshov was attending an Interpol meeting in the eastern city of Lyon.

Bourdon called for an immediate enquiry into Kuleshov's alleged involvement in the clampdown following the election.

Interpol confirmed that Kuleshov had come to Lyon to sign an accord allowing Interpol passport bearers to visit Belarus without a visa, but that his visit was now "over" and they did not know his current whereabouts.